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that God will make us the honoured in struments of enlightening their minds, and bringing them to the knowledge of the true God. The present reward we look for is, to see some of the poor heathen themselves converted unto the Lord.

We are much united in our work, and are very happy together. I shall take this opportunity to say, that I have not lost my zeal for God, the simplicity of the gospel, or the comforts of true religion. No; glory be to God, he is still with me to do me good, and, I trust, if the Lord be pleased to spare my life, as I am now entering upon my most extensive sphere of action, that my highly respected fathers and brethren, of the committee, will have sufficient proof that I am not wanting in that spirit which should influence every missionary. I believe that all the brethren are deeply impressed with the great importance of the subject of

MR. EDITOR,

schools. If we can get schools established through the island immediately, and entirely under our direction, great good will arise from it; because if we can only accomplish this object, it will become assis tant to our mission. But to England we must look for the means of establishing and supporting these schools. May we not look, with confidence? We Batter ourselves that we may. We very much want a chapel at this station, and we have hopes of being able this year, to do something in the way of getting one. Your's, with great respect,

JOHN M'KENNY. P. S. On the 11th of July, we were blessed with another son. He is a fine thriving child; and thank God, that my beloved partner is able to nurse him her self, which is seldom the case here with Europeans.

POETRY.

THE following piece was written above fifty years ago; and as it has never appeared in the Methodist Magazine, you will oblige me by giving it a place therein, if you think it has sufficient merit. Your friend and servant, EDMUND HEPPLE.

ON SOLITUDE.

Softly-pleading Solitude,
Were thy blessings understood,
Soon would thoughtless mortals grow
Tir'd of noise, and pomp, and show;
And, with thee, retreating, gain
Pleasure crowds pursue in vain.
True, the friendly social mind
Joy in converse oft can find;
Not where empty mirth presides,
But with those whom wisdom guides.
Yet the long-continued feast
Sometimes palls upon the taste;
Kind, alternate then to be
Lost in thought awhile with thee.
Intellectual pleasures here
In their truest light appear;
Grave reflection, friendly pow'r,
Waits the lonely silent hour;
Spread before the mental eye,
Actions past in order lie;
By reflection's needful aid,
Latent errors are display'd;
Thus humility is taught,

Thus confirm'd, the better thought.
Friends and soothings' praise apart,
Solitude unveils the heart;
When the veil is thrown aside,
Can we see a cause for pride?

Empty is the heart, and poor,
Stript of all its fancied store;
Conscious want awaits desire,
Bids the restless wish aspire,
Thirst for riches never found,
Through the globes capacious round.
Contemplation, sacred guest,
Now inspires the ardent breast;
Spreads her wing, and bids the mind
Rise and leave the world behind.
Now the mind enraptur'd soars;
All the wealth of Indias' shores
Is but dust beneath her eye;
Nobler treasures kept on high,
Treasures of eternal joy,
Now her great pursuit employ;
Mansions of immense delight!
Language cannot say how bright!
See the op'ning gates display,
Beaming far, immortal day!
See! inviting angels smile,
And applaud the glorious toil!
Hark, they tune the charming lyre ;
Who can hear and not desire!
O the sweet, though distant strain!
All the joys of earth, how vain!
Nearer fain the mind would rise,
Fain would gaze with eager eyes,
On the glories of the skies;
But mortality denies.

Dusky vapours cloud her sight,
Down she sinks to earth and night;

Then to friendship calls again,
Gentle solace of her pain!

Friendship, with thy pleasing pow'r,
Come and cheer the mournful hour;
Only Solitude and thee,

Can afford a joy for me.

Printed at the Conference-Office, 14, City-Road, London; T.CORDEUX, Agent.

"Dec. 9. Many troubles, and many comforts; many temptations, and many deliverances, have, alternately, been my portion during the last year. And while I have had cause for mourning, from a deep consciousness of my imperfections, my soul bath exclaimed, Oh, how good, how heavenly, how precious, is the love of Christ to my soul !'

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May 3, 1790. Though conscious of coming short of the whole image of God, and the full requirements of the gospel, yet I have felt many refreshing seasons since the above date: his wonderful condescension sinks me into the dust. 24. Being deeply conscious of the imperious command, Be ye holy, for I am holy;' and of the extent of the promise, 'He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him,' I have this day determined on an entire surrender of my heart to God, and a more than ordinary exercise of my whole soul in subjection to his will: and for this purpose I intend to read, for some time, only what has a tendency to inflame my affections, and to engage all my powers in the Divine service.

"June 28. I spent several hours in devotional reading and prayer; but felt little encouragement, through a suggestion in my mind, that I was seeking to be holy by prayer and reading, and not by Christ. Thus satan would make the means and the end go to war with each other. What God hath joined together let no one put asunder.

"October 18. My business, family, and the church of God, have often presented scenes of a very trying nature, within the last three months; but they have been interspersed with much "peace and joy through believing."-We now find that a long interval of time elapsed, without his having made any entry in his diary. No express reason is assigned for this; but a multiplicity of business and domestic cares appear to have been the cause. How necessary is it for the people of God constantly to watch against the encroachments of the world, that while they are laudably diligent in business, they may continue to maintain fervour of spirit. In June 1791, our friend removed to Birmingham, where he opened a school, and met with considerable encouragement. He still continued to preach with great acceptance in a local capacity, and began to feel an ardent desire after more extensive usefulness. This led him to entertain serious thoughts of offering himself to Conference; but fearing at the same time (on account of financial matters) his family might be objected to, he opened his mind freely to his confidential friend, Mr. Reynolds, and solicited his advice. An extract from his letter on this subject is subjoined. It is dated Oct. 6, 1794. "I must tell you what has occupied my thoughts for a considerable time, and what impresses my mind with a great degree of seriousness. If my brethren in Conference would have no objection to make trial of me, as an itinerant preacher, it

would meet with my fervent desires; desires which I have reason to believe are inspired by the Spirit of God. I believe I have no other end in view, than to do all the good I can while I live. This is not a transient desire, but what I may presume to say is the constant bent of my mind. I feel this inclination in my darkest and most tried states of mind, and more especially when the tide of Divine love runs high. However, the feelings of my soul are not altogether decisive in the matter: I believe there is in most cases an outward as well as an inward call; and on that ground, I wish your advice, as you are the first, next to my wife, that I have spoken to upon the subject. Having a wife and three children, I feel some reluctancy in mentioning my case to Mr. R. However, as you are better acquainted with these matters than myself, and as I shall pay some attention to your advice, I hope you will write soon, and tell me all that is necessary upon the subject."

The following letter to the same friend, dated January 20, 1799, serves to shew us the state of Mr. Welch's mind at that time, and in some measure supplies the chasm found in his diary. "Birmingham, January 20, 1799.

"My dear Brother,

"I hope you will pardon my long silence. I mean to write more frequently, and I should have written many months sooner, had I not had some intention of going over to Nottingham at my Christmas vacation, and of spending about a week in your circuit; but I have been providentially prevented. The change and trouble consequent on moving three times in about seven years, have been each time accompanied with the loss of a measure of grace and comfort. How do the things of life weigh down the soul! Help me by your prayers to recover my loss. I am verging towards forty, and O! how small are my attainments! Were death to make its approach, I am afraid it would wear a gloomy aspect, not through a fear of missing heaven, but of coming short, very short, of some of those higher degrees of glory to which a higher degree of holiness would intitle me. O! my brother, remember an old friend, when you are besieging the throne of grace. I am far from being so holy, so happy, or so useful as I might have been. I hope, God owns your labours abundantly, and makes you a blessing to the church of God, and also to your family.

"I am your very affectionate brother, "T. WELCH." He again resumes his diary, by recording the death of his wife. Birmingham, October 25, 1801. Eleven years have elapsed since I recorded in my journals any account of the dealings of God with me. O what a multitude of trials, temptations, com

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